Big Fish Games has announced Faunasphere has entered closed beta. Faunasphere is a Massive Multi-player Online (MMO) game from the lead designer of Ashron’s Call. The MMO focuses on the casual audience and brings social networking into the mix.

The goal of the game is to adopt and care for quirky little creatures known as Fauna. Players can collaborate with other players to build virtual worlds. Players can explore virtual worlds, as well. The Fauna lay eggs as they level up and the eggs hatch into new Fauna. There are twelve different breeds of Fauna and players can even try and breed Fauna for specific traits. The game is aimed at casual gamers and focuses on non-violent game play, rich social networking elements, and contains an immersive storyline.

When Faunasphere is released, the game will be free to play. They will make their money off of microtransactions and premium memberships. Premium memberships will buy you an enhanced gaming experience.

Sounds like an intersting game. I like the idea of a free MMO game funded by microtransactions. Microtransactions can suck you in if it is a good game. It will be exciting to see how the game play is.

Press Release Follows:

SEATTLE – June 16, 2009 – Big Fish Games™, the world’s leading online destination for games and interactive entertainment, announces Faunasphere (www.faunasphere.com), currently in closed beta. In this browser-based casual MMO, players adopt and care for cute and quirky creatures known as Fauna and collaborate to build and explore beautiful virtual worlds. From the creator and lead designer of Asheron’s Call, Faunasphere engages a broad casual gamer audience through non-violent game play, rich social networking elements, and an immersive storyline. The game is free to play, and will feature micro-transactions and premium membership to enhance the game play experience.

Players Reactions
    “I’m sooo addicted!!! I gotta say….it’s taken such a hold of me!!!! It is totally addictive once you get in there and start finding out all the things you can do!!!! People helping other people on here just lights up my world!!! I want to do the same thing for the newer people coming in!!! AND….I’ll be telling everyone I know about this new virtual world!!!!”

    “Well done on a super game, and keep up the good work!  Absolutely love the game – already addicted.”

    “I’m having the best time with this game!  I decided to play for an hour and the next thing I know several hours have passed!”

    “I’m always saying, ‘Just one more set of arms and then I’ll stop…ok just one more complete set of artifacts and then I’ll stop…ok I can’t keep my eyes open so I’ll stop, ok I can’t stop.’”

About Faunasphere
    Fauna lay eggs as they level up. Eggs can be hatched to create new Fauna or traded between players.

    12 Fauna breeds to adopt and care for, with an endless array of visual variations to explore. Players can try to breed Fauna for specific traits, or can purchase special items to transform them.

    Players can customize their own corner of the world by designing a Faunasphere to shelter their Fauna. Items to decorate and improve a player’s Faunasphere can be collected via game play, traded between players, or purchased.

    Players advance through the world via unique, non-violent game play. Fauna clean up pollution and complete tasks to earn game currency and level up.

    The game can be played as a no-commitment diversion, but offers deeper involvement for committed players.